I know a guy that works for LSU agricultural department and he told my hubby a good way to root something. In Louisiana we have wild willow trees. He said that the willow tree has lots of hormones that promote root growth. He said if there is something you want to root take a couple of the willow limbs and put them in a bucket of water along with the plants you want to root. The hormones from the willow limbs get into the water and stimulate the limbs you want rooted. Gives you a greater chance of them rooting. I hope this helps someone.
Interesting, thanks for the hint, it does make since, the way those things take root all up and down the river. Maybe i'll try that.
Thanks for the tip. It certainly makes sense to me too and should definately work. Next time I have to root something up I'll give it a try.
Thanks for the tip. I will most definately use that tip this coming spring. It's the time when we must prune all the "knot willows" along the canals, so there'll be plenty to experiment with...and I have a couple of bushes that I'd like to propagate. Thanks again.
Now that you mention it, I remember hearing that tip on a gardening program many years ago..probably The Victory Garden or P. Allen Smith Garden Home. Since I wasn't actually gardening at that time, just dreaming about it, I filed that bit of info in one of the deep dark crevices of my memory....thank for bringing it back to the surface. It just might be useful next spring and I think I know someone who has a willow in their yard I could get a couple of limbs from.
That is a very interesting tip. I wish I knew where some willows were close to here. I would sure try it with some bush cuttings I am getting ready to prune.
Makes good sense, since root powder is pretty much a hormone concotion. Interesting tip I'll need to take note of since we've got our share of willow along the creek bed.
I am actually making willow water now. I have a ton of it growing everywhere in this area. The way I saw to do it is to take the freshest limbs about the size of a pencil in diameter and cut them into 1-3 inch pieces. Boil them and then steep them in warm water for 12-48 hours. Cool the liquid and store it in the fridge until needed for up to 3 months. I won;t store mine very long because I have so much readily available but I would venture a guess that it could be frozen for long term storage in a water bottle. Might have to try it and see if it keeps or not. When you have the cuttings, take some and soak the new cuttings in the liquid for 24-48 hours and then plant them as normal in damp peat moss or potting soil. I will have to let you know if it works because I will be trying it on some plum tree cuttings in the next few days. Watch this thread for updates: http://www.gardenstew.com/about12883.html
I once read about this. I will be interested to see how it works for you fish_4_all and will be watching your thread.
I've heard that before too, now that you mention it. We don't have any willows anywhere around us, though. Thanks for sharing!
